One former Philadelphia 76ers player got critical of another this week, as the Ben Simmons situation out in Sacramento has rubbed Patrick Beverley the wrong way.
From one NBA veteran, who has teased comebacks, to another, Beverley believes that Simmons' shot is unfair. The outspoken veteran accuses Simmons of quitting the game because times got hard. And looking at a guy like Victor Oladipo, who has been taking all angles to convince the NBA that he can still make an impact, Beverley believes the Sacramento Kings made a poor decision in signing Simmons.
Did Ben Simmons quit the game?
Since his Sixers days, Simmons has caught a lot of flak over accusations of not loving the game. His stoic demeanor came off as careless. His unwillingness to shoot threes convinced many that he simply doesn't work on his game. So, when the former All-Star took a season off to run with his pro fishing team, it came off as quitting to Beverley.
The explanation from Simmons has always been this: he wants to get healthy. During his Philly days, Simmons dealt with back-and knee-related injuries, well after his season-ending foot injury before his true rookie season.
The concerns continued during his run with the Brooklyn Nets, and by the time he got to the Los Angeles Clippers for a quick stint, Simmons claimed he simply didn't feel like himself physically. Taking time off could end up being a wise decision for Simmons, of course, depending on how he looks when he gets to suit up for the Kings in the fall.
If Beverley was taking a trip down memory lane and accusing Simmons of quitting on the 76ers, then he has a point. Say all you want about why Simmons grew disgruntled, but he quit on the Philadelphia 76ers after his disappointing second-round series during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. He wasn't going to play for the team when healthy in 2021-2022.
But this situation is different. Quitting and taking time to recover are two different scenarios. If Simmons is searching for longevity, then jumping into a situation with, say, the New York Knicks, probably would've led to him playing on a super short leash and potentially leaving him cut before the championship run.
Now that Simmons lands in a low-stakes environment for the first time in his career, really, he could get a chance to prove that at 30, there are still star qualities in play. Beverley is a grinder who has played for seven different NBA teams and a handful of overseas clubs. That's one way to do it. Simmons doesn't seem to be interested in doing it in any other way.
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